Refrigerator door latch



A118212, 194 R. s. TAYLOR ETAL 2,252,144

REFRIGERTOR DOOR LATCH Filed Dec. 27, 19:57 2 sheet-sheet 1 gig/ 16INVENTORS f 5T BY www 5% (0^ WVATTOMEY.

Aug. 12, 1941. R. s. TAYLOR ETAL REFRIGERATOR DOOR LATCH 2 sheets-sheet2 Filed Dec. 27, 1937 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 l REFRIGERATOR DOOR LATCHRobert S. Taylor and Clement Decker, Evansville, Ind., assignors toServel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 27, 1937, serial No. 181,738

'I Claims.

This invention relates to a refrigerator door latch, and it is an objectof the invention to provide an improved magnetic latch whereby a door isautomatically latched when it is moved to its closed position. Moreparticularly, it is an object of the invention to provide such amagnetic latch having mechanism to overcome the magnetic force ofattraction to facilitate the opening of a door.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will bebetter understood from the following description and accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator, partly broken away and insection, provided with a magnetic latch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figs.1 and 3 to illustrate the magnetic latch more clearly;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 toillustrate parts of the latch more clearly;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional. view taken on line 4 3 ofFig. 3; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken on lines 5-5 and 66,respectively, of Fig, 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the invention has been shown in connection with arefrigerator Ill having a storage compartment II into which access maybe had by a door I2 hinged at I3 to the,

front of the refrigerator. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, Vthe door l2comprises outer and inner wall members I4 and l5 which are maintained inspacedrelation by a wooden frame structure I6 with the spacetherebetween lled with a suitable heat insulating material Il.

The door frame I6 is provided with an outer: ledge I8.which overlies anouter wall member I9` of the refrigerator I when the door is closed. Theedges of the outer and inner wall members i4 and I5 are secured to thedoor frame I6 in any suitable manner. A trim or breaker strip 20, whichis indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 3, is arranged about the doorframe I6 and extends from the edge of the inner door member I to theinside of ledge I8. A portion of the breaker strip 20 is shown insection in Fig. 6. A suitable gasket 2| formed of rubber or the like isfixed to the inner surface of ledge I8 and may extend toward the outeredge of breaker strip 20. The gasket 2| bears against the outer wallmember I9 of the refrigerator I0 and forms a seal with the latter toprevent the escape of cold air from storage compartment II.

Between the spaced outer and inner wall members I9 and 22 ofrefrigerator I0 is provided a suitable insulating material 23. The outerwall member I9 extends about a wooden frame 24 at the door opening andterminates at an inner surface of the frame. The inner wall member 22 iscurved inwardly about a major portion of the door opening, as indicatedby the dotted line 22 in Fig. 3, and between the spaced edges of thewall members I9 and 22 is provided a breaker strip 25 which is `alsoindicated by a dotted line in Fig. 3. The breaker strip 25 is shown insection in Fig. 6.

In accordance with this invention, we provide a magnetic latch forretaining door I2 in its closed position. The magnetic latch includes apermanent magnet 2l which is formed of a suitable magnetic material,such as the material commercially known as Alnico or the like, forexample, and which is generally of cylindrical shape. As shown mostclearly in Fig. 3, magnet 2l is fixed to a supporting plate 28 having acurved flange 29 which bears against a curved side of the magnet, and aiiange 30 which bears against a flat side of the magnet. The supportingplate 28 is xed to the magnet in any suitable manner, as by screws, andis provided with tabs. 3| which extend above and below the magnet 2l, asshown in Fig. 2. The tabs 3I of supporting plate 28 may be secured tothe inside of outer wall member I4, as by screws 32, for

example. l

The magnet 2l is disposed in a recessed portion of door I2, and, whenthe door is closed, the magnet moves into a recessed portion of the dooropening-in refrigerator I0. The magnet 2l is arranged in a housing whichincludes a semicircular plate 33 which extends about a curved portion ofmagnet. The inner edgof plate 33 bears against gasket 2l and the outeredge terminates below the face of magnet 21. The breaker strip 20 indoor I2 is broken at the region at which the magnet is mounted thereon,and the plate 33 serves as a continuation of the breaker strip aroundthe magnet. The plate 33 may be formed of the same material as thebreaker strip, such as the material commercially known as Bakelite, andprovided with flanges 34, as shown in Fig. 6, which underlie the ends ofbreaker strip 20.

Similarly, a second curved plate 35 is disposed about an opposite curvedportion of the magnet between the outer face thereof and inner wallmember I5. The curved plate 35 also serves as a continuation of breakerstrip 2D at the region of magnet 21 and may be provided with fianges(not shown) which connect the ends of the breaker strip 28 in a mannersimilar to that shown in Fig. 6. Suitable insulating material, such assponge rubber, for example, may be employed -about the magnet 21 andhousing formed by the curved plates 33 and 35 to effectively insulatethe door at the region of the magnetic latch,

As shown in Fig. 6, the door opening is also recessed in the region ofthe magnetic latch to receive the magnet when the door I2 is closed;

The frame 24 is recessedto receive a curved plate 36 which conforms tothe contour of plate 33 and serves as a continuation of breaker strip25. The plate 38 is. provided with flanges 31 which underlie the ends ofbreaker strip 25. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the plate 36 extendsfrom the edge of outer wall member I9 to the edge of inner wall member22 of the refrigerator I0. As pointed out above, the edge portion ofinner wall member 22 is curved inwardly about a major portion of thedoor opening. At the region of the magnetic latch the edge portion ofthe inner wall member 22 slopes into the recessed part of the frame 24,as indicated at 22a, and at the extreme edge conforms more or less tothe curved contour of plate 36. To the portion 22a of inner wall member22- is fixed a curved supporting plate 38 which is serrated or notchedon its outer surface.

To supporting plate 38 is adjustably secured a housing 39. The housing39 may be cylindrical in shape and provided with serrations or notcheswhich cooperate with the serrations on supporting plate 38. Flanges (notshown) having elongated openings may be fixed -to the exterior ofhousing 39 for securing the latter to the supporting plate 38, as byscrews 48. With this arrangement the housing is adjustable on plate 38and may be moved forward or rearward on the latter.

A metal block 4| iscarried by housing 39 in front o1' the latter. 'Iheblock 4I serves as an armature element for magnet 21 and is formed ofsuitable material whereby the block is firmly h'eld to the magnet, dueto the magnetic fleld produced by the latter, when the door is moved toits closed position.

The block 4| is provided with a threaded opening to receive the outerthreaded end of' a stud 42 which extends through an opening in housing39. A coil spring 43 is disposed between the front end wall of housing39 and the flanged head 44 of stud 42 to permit rearward movement ofblock 4I when door I2 is closed and Vmagnet 21 bears against the block4I. An adjustable stop 45 is secured to the rear end wall of housing 39'to limit rearward movement of stud 42 and block 4| carried thereby.

'Ihe operation of the magnetic latch thus far described is substantiallyas follows: When door I2 is closed the gasket 2| first bears against theouter wall member I9.of the refrigerator II). After an effective seal isprovided about the door opening by gasket 2|, the outer face of magnet21 bears against the block or armature element 4|. Due to the strongmagnetic field produced by magnet 21, the magnet and block are firmlyheld together to keep the door I2 in its closed position- The housing 39is adjusted on its supporting plate 38 so that gasket 2| is firmlypressed against the outer wall member 29 when the magnet 21 and block oramature element 4| are held together.

In order to effect easy opening of the door I2, mechanism is provided tobreak the magnetic field between magnet 21 and block 4|. This mechanismis incorporated in the magnetic latch A and includes a handle 41. Thehandle 41 is preferably hollow and provided with openings in the upperpart thereof to receive a pin 48. The pin 48 is journaled in the spacedarms 49 formed on a plate 50 which is secured by screws 5I to the doorframe I6. As shown in Fig. 5, the plate 50 covers the screws 32 whichsecure supporting plate 28 in position on the inside of outer wallmember I4. The plate 50 is secured in position subsequent to thesupporting plate 28 'and the screws 5I provide additional strength forholding supporting plate 28 on the inside of wall member I4. About thepin 48 and plate 50 is provided an enclosing shell 53 having an openingthrough which the handle 41 extends.

The handle 41 extends through openings formed in plate 50, outer wallmember I4, and supporting plate 28, and into a recessed portion 54 ofmagnet 21. To the inner end of handle 41 is journaled a roller 55 whichis adapted to bear against a flat side of a lever 56 which is U-shapedin cross-section. 'Ihe sides of hollow handle 41 straddle the lever 56,as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. 'I'he lever 56 is rigidly secured to thesquared end of a shaft 51 which is journaled in a bushing 58 in magnet21 and a plate 59 which is secured to the forward part of the magnetadjacent the face thereof. A 'coil spring 60 is secured to the end oflever 56 and plate 50 to urge the lever upward, as-shown in Fig. 4.

The shaft 51 is provided with a cam 8| which is disposed in a cutawayportion of the magnet at one side thereof. The cam 6I cooperates with apin 62 which extends through an opening in magnet 21 and terminates atthe outer face of the latter at the region of an abutment or stop 63formed on block 4I. A `coil spring 64 is disposed between the head ofpin 62 and a recessed portion of magnet 21 to urge pin 62 away fromabutment 63.

The operation of the magnetic latch release mechanism just described isas follows: Assuming that door I2 is closed and that magnet 21 and block4I are firmly held together, the outer end of handle 41 is raised aboutthe pin 48. 'I'he movement of handle 41 depresses the inner end thereofwhereby the roller 55 moves lever 56 and causes rotation of shaft 51.With turning movement of shaft 51, cam 6I is turned and pin 62 is movedagainst stop 63 of block 4I, whereby a separating force is producedwhich overcomes the magnetic field between magnet 21 and block 4I. Theforce applied in raising handle 41 is multiplied by the latch releasemechanism so that considerable force is produced to effect separation ofthe magnet 21 and block 4| and thereby effect easy opening of the doorI2. When handle 41 vis released the outer end thereof falls by gravity,whereby roller 55 at the inner end thereof is raised. With upwardmovement of roller 55, lever 56 is raised by the action of springwhereby cam 6I is turned, thereby permitting spring 64 on pin 62 to urgethe latter away lfrom stop 63. This permits subsequent closing of ldoorI2 so that magnet 21 and block 4I will again be held together to retainthe door in its closed position.

The bushing 58, plate 59, and pin 62 are preferably formed of a suitablenon-magneticmaterial, such as brass, for example. Instead of providingthe spring 60 under cover plate 53 to turn shaft 2,252,144 l when handle4l is released after opening the door, -a coil spring may be arrangedabout shaft 5l to effect turning of the latter. The stop d5 limitsrearward movement of armature element il and also serves as an adjustingscrew to spring t3. By moving stop 45 the latch may be adjusted withoutany necessity of moving the housing v39. Spring d3 effectively holdsarma- 'ture element il in position and compensates for any manufacturingvaria-tions.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent that various changes and modifica.- tionsmay be made` Without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, as pointed out in the following claims.

What is claimed is:l

1. For use with a cabinet having a door, a latch including a magnetelement and a cooperating armature element to hold the door in itsclosed position, said elements being mounted on the cabinet and door insuch a manner that the element mounted on the cabinet is in the path ofmovement of the element mounted on the door when the door is moved toits closed position, and resilient means associated with one of saidelements and permitting movement thereof when it is contacted by saidother element.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim land including a stop to limitmovement of said one element having resilient means associatedtherewith.

3. In combination with a cabinet having a door, of a latch including amagnet element and a cooperating armature element to hold the door inits closed position under theinfluence of the magnetic field in saidmagnet element, said elements being mounted on the cabinet and the doorin' such a manner that the element mounted on the cabinet is always inthe path of movement of the element mounted on the door, and meanscushioning the shock ot impact between the magnet element and armatureelement when said elements are moved into abutting relation by a suddenor forceful closing of the door.

4. In combination with a cabinet having a door, of a latch includingamagnet element and a cooperating armature element to hold the door inits closed position under the influence of the magnetic field in saidmagnet element, one of said elements being mounted on the door andhaving a face exposed on the rear side of the door, the other` of saidelements being mounted on the cabinet and having an exposed face, saidelements being mounted on the cabinet and door in such a manner that theexposed face of the element mounted on the cabinet is always in the pathof movement of said element mounted on the door when the latter is movedto its closed position, and means yieldably mounting at least one ofsaid elements to reduce shock transmitted to the door and the cabinetwhen the faces of said elements abut each other and are moved into suchabutting relation by sudden or forceful movement of the door to itsclosed position.

5. In combination with a cabinet having a door provided with a movablymounted handle to facilitate opening of the door, latch mechanismincluding a magnet element and a cooperating armature element to holdthe door in closed position under the iniiuence of the magnetic eld inthe magnet element, said elements being mounted on the cabinet and doorin a manner such that the element on the cabinet is in the path ofmovement of the element on the door, and movable means associated withone of said elements and adapted to be actuated by said handle forseparating said elements against magnetic attraction upon movement oflsaid handle.

6. In combination with a cabinet having a door provided with a movablymounted handle to facilitate opening of the door, latch mechanismincluding a magnet elementv and a cooperating armature element to holdthe door in closed position under the influence of the magnetic eld inthe magnet element, said elements being mounted on the cabinet and doorin a manner such that the element on the cabinet is in the path ofmovement of the element on the door, and movable means associated withone of said elements and adapted to be actuated by said handle forforcibly separating said elements to open the door, said movable meansincluding means providing an additional mechanical advantage for saidhandle. y

7. In combination with a cabinet having a door provided with a movablymounted handle l to facilitate opening of the door, latch mechanismincluding a magnet element and a cooperating armature element to holdthe door in closed position under the influence of the magnetic eld-inthe magnet element, one of said elements being mounted on the door andthe ROBERT S. TAYLOR. CLEMENT DECKER.

